is David Tennant going to play Bilbo Baggins?

The 38-year-old is tipped to play Bilbo Baggins in the big screen adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s book.

The Scottish star leads a list of stars, including James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, vying to play the title role of Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit.” The film – which may be split in two – is based on Tolkien’s children’s book prequel to The Lord Of The Rings hit series.

Tennant is due to make his debut appearance at the world’s biggest science-fiction and fantasy convention Comic-Con in the US next week.

And Rings director Peter Jackson is also expected to announce his choice for the role when he attends.

Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times, said yesterday: “David Tennant just happens to be making his very first trip to the San Diego expo to promote “Doctor Who,” a television series that he will soon be leaving behind. “Peter Jackson, the producer of the two-film “Hobbit” series that begins its theatre run in 2011, is also slated to appear this year, and, well you can see the dot-connecting possibilities. …

We could also say that the fact that Kevin Smith is flying is specially for Comic Con even though he’s in the middle of shooting a movie combined with the fact that Ben Browder will be at the con to promote a show that was cancelled six years ago means, clearly, that the two will be collaborating on a new series about stoner astronauts.

Still, it’s a terrible tease, isn’t it? It’s like you can see the big Christmas present across the room — or perhaps, in the case of The Hobbit, a big birthday present is the more appropriate metaphor. And you can see the tag on it, and it reads “To The Fans, Love, Peter Jackson.” And you know there’s something totally awesome inside, like a puppy or a Big Wheel or Barbie’s Malibu Dream House, but you can’t open it yet.

That’s so mean.

(Thanks to the many readers who sent the link, from the Telegraph.)

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